Dim Sum

My mourning period for Top Gun has officially ended. Ever since they closed last summer, I had been wandering around Chinatown lackadaisical and noncommitted to the other Dim Sum options. I even drove out to the relocated Top Gun, which was in a Factoria strip mall (don’t bother).

Zach said he heard about a new place that a few friends had recommended. I was skeptical since I thought we had already tried everything in the ID, so I was surprised when we rounded the corner and headed toward Sun Ya—a place that my grandma used to take me to when I was a kid, but had forgotten about.

We happily stuffed ourselves silly, grinning at our fortune of finding Dim Sum that was maybe even better than Top Gun.

Shrimp Balls – This was the only slightly disappointing dish, as the shrimp didn’t taste as fresh as they could be.

Sticky Rice – Really good rice with lots of bits of tender pork but no lop chong, which I love (but know most people don’t).

Baked Hum Bow – I was never a huge fan of these until now. The dough was slightly crunchy and sweet, with a sticky outside and the same perfect filling.

Pot Stickers – Really good, stuffed with nicely seasoned pork and water chestnuts that gave it a nice flavor and crunch.

Garlic Spareribs – This was the star of the meal. We special ordered these and they were strangely addictive. The spareribs were fried and crunchy but not at all greasy, with a fantastic garlic flavor that was both subtle and strong at the same time. I wanted to stuff them into my cheeks like a chipmunk.

Sesame Seed Dessert Balls – I don’t know what was in them, but they were a lot like my grandma’s tai doi—slightly sweet, chewy, fried balls of goodness.

Even though I couldn’t possibly have eaten another bite, the bbq window we passed on the way home was making me drool. Next time…

I grew up in Bellevue, but I’m now down in Oregon. I was searching for a baked Hum Bow recipe and happened upon your blog. I saw reference to Factoria and your search for dim sum. I wanted to mention the best baked hum bow I have ever found is at the Pike Place Chinese Restaraunt (that’s the name, and it is right inside Pike Place Market, as the name implies). Anyway, if you get downtown definitely check it out. I haven’t tried their other dim sum, and it’s been 15 years since I’ve been there. Hope it is still as good as I remember. P.S. Did you ever track down a Hum Bow recipe?

Yeah… the pikes place hum bows are to die for, they are massive though, about the size of ones hand. I get them every time I go there. Definatly worth a try for anyone who likes hum bows. I take my friends there everytime they come to visit from out of state… one of my friends actuallys ASKS to be taken there.